Not sure where to start your American accent training? 


Start here with this course! Learn the top 10 essentials of the American accent with Julie Cunningham, a licensed speech-language pathologist and professional American accent and voice coach! 

"Take the leap to reach your English goals!"

"I recently finished a 10-session program with Julie, and I am completely satisfied with the results. 

Since the first class, it was clear that she was an expert on the subject and created a safe space to practice and ask questions. I totally recommend Julie if you are looking for a coach who helps you improve the details of your accent that limit your communication or make you feel less confident. My best piece of advice is to take the leap to reach your English goals!"


Juan V., PhD Student, Spanish

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to the American Accent: Top 10 Essentials course!

    2. How to use this course

    3. Before we begin...

    1. Syllables and Stress

    2. Stress in Sentences

    3. Test your learning

    1. International Phonetic Alphabet for the American English Consonants

    2. Place, Manner, and Voicing of the American English Consonants

    3. Online Resources

    4. Test your learning

    1. International Phonetic Alphabet for the American English Vowels

    2. The Vowels of American English

    3. Test your learning

    1. How to Pronounce the AH /ɑ/ and UH /ʌ/ Vowels

    2. AH /ɑ/ and UH /ʌ/ Vowels: Minimal Pairs Listening Quiz

    3. AH /ɑ/ and UH /ʌ/ Vowels: Visual Test

    4. Test your learning

    1. How to Pronounce the EE /i/ and IH /ɪ/ Vowels

    2. EE /i/ and IH /ɪ/ Vowels: Minimal Pairs Listening Quiz

    3. EE /i/ and IH /ɪ/ Vowels: Visual Test

    4. Test your learning

About this course

  • $19.99
  • 39 lessons
  • 2.5 hours of video content
Watch Intro Video

Watch this video to learn more about the course!

American Accent: Top 10 Essentials

Course details

What will I learn?

You'll learn the top 10 essentials of the American accent through detailed lessons on:

  • how to identify and pronounce stressed and unstressed syllables in American English

  • how to master American English rhythm with the most common word reductions.

  • the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) of every vowel and consonant of American English

  • how to pronounce the most challenging consonants of American English, the R and T consonants

  • how to pronounce the most challenging vowels of American English, the AH /ɑ/, UH /ʌ/, EE /i/ and IH /ɪ/ vowels

  • how to smooth out your spoken American English through linking in connected speech

  • Each chapter also includes pronunciation videos, helpful text explanations, downloadable worksheets, and chapter quizzes to test your knowledge.


What English skill level should I have before I take this course?

The material in this course is best for a skill level of intermediate and above. However, I would encourage beginners of English to enroll and try to follow along with the videos and exercises (captions are available).  It's never too early to start learning about American English pronunciation!


Why should I take this course on the American accent?

Pronunciation can't be learned from a book. Once a word is spoken out loud, its pronunciation often changes, and the only way to learn about that pronunciation is to listen to native speakers and then imitate them. This course will give you the opportunity to do just that - listen to and imitate native speakers of American English, with helpful pronunciation tips and guidance along the way. 


But even more important is this course will teach you the rules that govern American English pronunciation, such as: 

  • How a vowel is different from a consonant
  • Which words to stress and destress in a sentence
  • How to reduce the vowel in an unstressed syllable


As you become more aware of the sounds and patterns of spoken American English, your pronunciation skills will greatly improve!

Enroll now

Improve your American English TODAY!

"This course has so many great nuggets of wisdom!"

"I've crammed down the first four and a half chapters of the Master the American English Vowels for Spanish Speakers course.

This course has so many great nuggets of wisdom! I'm sure other Spanish speakers will love it, too. So far, the part that I love the most is the reduced vowels in sentences as I know it makes such a big difference in speech. And having the chance to repeat each sentence as many times as I want in normal and slower pace is just brilliant!"


Rocio P., Software Engineer, Spanish

Watch this video to hear from my students!

Do you want the same transformation?

Meet your course instructor

Hello! My name is Julie Cunningham, and I've trained thousands of people on their American English pronunciation and voice projection skills. Here's how I can help you.

I've been helping people with their American English pronunciation skills since 2007, when I moved to the Czech Republic to teach English. This experience sparked a desire to return to school and earn a graduate degree in speech and language pathology, then pursue specialized certifications in American English pronunciation and American accent training.

Then I founded my company San Diego Voice and Accent, where I work one-on-one with professionals who want to perfect their American English pronunciation skills, project a clear and confident voice, and maximize their speaking potential.

Over the years of working as an American accent coach and professional voice trainer, I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't work when training your pronunciation skills and voice projection. It's not enough for you to simply "repeat" what you hear; that isn't going to get you the results. You need to practice with the right technique and with the most effective methods, and you need someone there to guide you along the way.

That's why I created my online accent training community called English Pro™ - to help professionals from all areas of the world and at all levels of English to speak with clarity and confidence, and to reach their goals of becoming a powerful and effective communicator.

English Pro™  gives you everything you need to train your American English communication skills successfully, including effective practice techniques, pronunciation help and feedback, and access to the SDVA online community for guidance and support along the way.


Julie Cunningham

Founder of San Diego Voice and Accent

"I have renewed confidence in my accent capability."

"I had the pleasure of working with Julie on my standard American accent.

Her knowledge and supportive instruction style made the experience truly enjoyable and worthwhile. Her professional yet easy going manner made me feel comfortable from the outset. Julie was encouraging, enthusiastic and most of all patient. I have renewed confidence in my accent capability and I have her to thank for it."


Stephen L., Voice Over Actor, South African English

FAQ

  • How long will it take me to complete this course?

    The course was designed to be completed within 2-4 weeks, though this may be different for each person. You are encouraged to spend as much time as you need to on each chapter, and you can also repeat any chapters in order to maximize your learning.

  • How long will I have access to this course?

    You will be able to access the course for as long as you remain enrolled.

  • How do I unenroll from this course?

    You are able to unenroll at any time in your Account Settings.

  • I've completed the course, and I'm interested in improving my English pronunciation even more. What should I do?

    If you want to take your American English pronunciation / American accent training to the next level, contact me for a free consultation to discuss private accent coaching ([email protected]). I also offer comprehensive online courses on the American accent - learn more below!

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"Julie increased my awareness of how to speak like a native speaker."

"I have worked with Julie for 8 months to improve my accent.

She is an incredible teacher. I like how quickly she could diagnose my pronunciation issues, in particular my tongue placements. She increased my awareness of how to speak like a native speaker. She also gave me drills to improve my speech, some of which are quite innovative such as using a metronome. Julie is very patient and compassionate and fun to work with. I highly recommend her for her skills, caliber, and approaches to quickly move you forward."


Joan Y., Life Coach, Mandarin Chinese

Clear and fluent American English

Learning the American accent doesn't have to be hard. Stop thinking about improving your pronunciation and take action - enroll in American Accent: Top 10 Essentials today!
Enroll now for $19.99
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